The scheme gained planning through new extended permitted development rights after being previously turned down twice by city council planner because of a lack of affordable housing.

The developer has selected local building contractor Truman Design & Build to deliver the £10m Centric residential scheme with work due to start in the next few weeks.

When finished the scheme will offer 46 one and two-bed apartments, featuring a resident community lounge, secure underground parking and bike-storage provision approved.

Howard Lord, managing director of CERT, said: “Planning reform is a hot topic, with, in our view, the viability process being something requiring specific focus from Labour’s newly-formed Government to help the process run smoothly and ensure housing targets are met. ”

“Our residential track record in Manchester speaks for itself with our commitment to deliver contemporary and desirable places to live, with this same approach applied to our first residential venture in Liverpool.”

The planning permission for the redevelopment was granted under permitted development rights, extended earlier in the year by the last government.

CERT submitted a planning application which included a partial roof extension of the property, which was turned down by Liverpool City Council in June.

Viability constraints meant that the scheme could not provide any affordable homes, a justification that Liverpool’s viability consultants and planning team had accepted, but the planning committee rejected.